Monday, March 30, 2015

The wise words presented below are from Alice Huang who has donated $240,000 to SELF. She is a retired professor from Harvard, a retired Dean of Science at New York University, and a member of the Division of Biology at California Institute of Technology. She has also served as a Board member of 80-20 PAC for many years, as well as that of many other non-profits such as the Rockefeller Foundation, Johns Hopkins Univ., Univ. of Massachusetts, Keystone Center and Public Agenda. She was the President & Chairperson of AAAS,American Association for the Advancement of Science, which is the world's largest general scientific society. Her spouse is Dr. David Baltimore, a Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine. Alice even pilots her own airplane. :-)

She is definitely one of our best and brightest, because unlike many other "successful" AsAms, she remains an integral part of our community, and she has the courage and substance to speak out & fight for our equal opportunity.

"After living in this country for more than 90% of my life, I am still asked questions like, where are you from? and receive comments on how good my English is! Caucasian minority immigrants in the U.S., once they lose their accents, can pass as White Americans; but we Asian American immigrants will not be able to easily blend into this country's majority population. Despite our educational attainments and earnings, both of which are higher than the average American's, we stand out and can easily become targets of racial harassment or discrimination. To avoid this we need to whole-heartedly participate and contribute in every aspect of American society to the extent that we become indispensable and gain enough influence and power in the economic, military, and political realms to protect ourselves.

This is because racial bias, and worse prejudice, is alive and well in the United States. On top of that the populace is prone to hysteria and fear of those who appear to be different. U.S. history is full of examples of racial laws passed by Congress to prevent Blacks, Chinese, or Mexicans from exercising their full civil rights. The internment of Japanese during the Second World War and their loss of homes and property stand out as examples of what can happen due to mass hysteria. Despite the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1968 and declaration of the unconstitutionality of the Anti-Miscegenation laws in 1967, these rights are not always fully enforced. More recently, after 9/11, besides the continued debates in the U.S. about limiting immigration, there were even questions concerning the rights of naturalized citizens and whether they could be jailed or deported without trial.

As Asian Americans most of us are still focused on our individual families and remain comfortable in the protective social niches that are isolated from mainstream America. Look around us. We cannot ignore that: (1) our children, who volunteered to join the armed forces to fight for the U.S., are often harassed to the extent that they have resorted to suicide as the only way to escape their tormentors; (2) our children's racial profile rather than their capabilities determines their entrance into the college of their choice; (3) we are too slowly entering the power structure of professions compared with those of us who fully qualify due to our training and capabilities; and (4) increasingly there is open resentment of recent wealthy Chinese immigrants who purchase desirable real estate or have the poor taste to build "McMansions".

Although we all hope that our and our progeny's contributions will be gradually recognized and rewarded, we cannot totally ignore the possibility of a sudden reversal of fortune for Asian Americans. Such a reversal could easily happen if the relationship between the governments of the United States and any one of the Asian countries increase in animosity or distrust leading to open warfare. As a group we should accept that self-promotion is an acceptable behavior in successful democracies. That is where 80-20 becomes so important. Unlike other Asian American associations and societies, it is not focused on just educational and cultural exchange. It promotes Asian Americans through political action as its primary goal and secondarily to prevent the stereotyping and denigration of Asian Americans through tasteless venues such as entertainment and in a variety of other circumstances.

Why is 80-20 trying so hard to raise financial support? Only with a strong and sustained financial base will we be able to attract a professional staff dedicated to educate and involve Asian Americans of all ages in the democratic political process and provide the tools for self-interested activism. We need to forge a strong coalition with other Asian American organizations so that by strength in numbers we can increase our political influence. Staff is needed to engage in wide surveillance of activities that prevent the advancement of Asian Americans, make these activities known, and solicit and coordinate appropriate action to counter these activities. This is the right time for 80-20 to succeed, and if does not, it will be because we are still too provincial to see the opportunity we have to provide future security for ourselves and our children.

For all the above reasons, I have directed my main philanthropic efforts recently to 80-20, hoping that a strong financial base in its educational arm will bring together more like-minded Asian Americans who are fully aware of racial history and the unpredictable nature of human society. Gradually, through political and civic education, my hope is that 80-20 as a political action committee will be able to gain strength and influence to fight for justice and fairness for ALL Asian Americans and at the same time educate a cadre of Asian American leaders who will dedicate themselves to being selfless public servants and exemplars of what we can offer to this country.

Why does 80-20 need to raise money? Beside what have been mentioned above it also needs to forge a strong and lasting coalition with other Asian American organizations. Join us and help us to accomplish all this by donating as generously as you can."

Monday, March 23, 2015

Some AsAms uttered:
"They did not win. They just stopped to show they were Jews!" Ha,
Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha. What a joke!

Jewish Ams are no longer timid, if they ever were. They sacrificed their
money and time to build up their political clout so that they no longer face
discrimination in the US.

Two
years ago, Asian Ams were called "The New Jews?", by
Pulitzer-winning reporter Paul Golden, because AsAms faced discriminations
in college admissions just like the Jews of decades ago. My question is:
When will we be like the Jews and sacrifice our money and time to
build up our political clout so that our children will ALSO have EQUAL
opportunity in college admissions?

Tolerating
a situation where our offspring seriously consider DENYING their heritage
is a collective cowardly act of the Asian Am community. Be the one to stand up for our children.

The
Jewish population in the US is 6 million, or 2% of the population.
The average Ivy League admission rate (% Jewish students) is
8.1%, which is 4 times more than its population percentage.

The AsAm
population is 17 million or 5.65% of the US population. If we multiple
5.65 by 4, it is 22.4%. The average admission rate for AsAms in Ivy
League schools is about 18%. So why do some AsAms think that there are
too many Asian Ams in Ivy League schools?

Maybe it is because they aren't aware of the above facts yet? Maybe
they didn't know that Asian Ams are much
more diverse, and originate from so many different nations in Asia.

For proofof the numbers reported above,click herefor a detailed report of the % of Jewish admission rate in each of the
50 first tier schools, which include all IVY schools. It is
entitled "The Top 50 Colleges With Active Jewish Communities."

Jewish Ams know the importance of maintaining their HERITAGE &self-esteem. They also know that
they must fight for their children's equal opportunity
in college admissions.

The
following "words from the heart" are from Prof. Larry Yu-Chi Ho. Please read it.
Thanks.

S.B. Woo, former Lt.
Governor of Delaware (1985-89)

President, 80-20
Educational Foundation

- - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dear Fellow Chinese Americans*,

I write this with a heavy heart and
the future of our fruitful existence in this

country as a minority population in mind.
Whether it is college admission for our children, welfare benefit for our
seniors, and equal treatment before the law, there are no free lunches.
One does not get benefits handed to you on a silver platter. You do not automatically get what you deserve
but what you are willing to fight for.

Many of the welfare/benefit we and
our seniors enjoy today are won on the lives and broken head and limbs of the
African American some 50 years ago. Those of you watched the Selma march
commemoration on TV know. Jewish Americans with only half of the population of Asian
Americans has a political action committee, AIPAC, that operates with an annual
budget 670 (yes, six hundred seventy) times larger than the Asian America
counterpart, the 80-20 Initiative (67 million vs 100K per year). This is what I
hope to bend your ears for just a couple of minutes of your time.

I have been working continuously
with 80-20 since day one 16 years ago and have witnessed the many
accomplishments she has brought about for our population. These you may know
and can find on her website. No need for me to repeat them here.

A year ago, 80-20 launched a
campaign of raising an endowment of five million dollars in five years, called
the SELF fund, for the organization to insure her long term survival. Sad to
say, today the total raised is way behind schedule. The Board of Donors of the SELF fund, which is a
group of 15 individuals charged with the task of helping the SELF fund raising,
and in which I am a member, realize that while you can lead a horse to
the water, you cannot force the horse to drink the water. As a group, Chinese
Americans are not poor. But if 80-20 cannot raise fund successfully, then
either she is not doing a worthy job or our message is not getting through.
Thus, the board of donors decided to conduct an experiment. We voted that
"each of us shall do our best to raise $2800.00 in the next two weeks
(from 3/11-3/25) for the 80-20 SELF fund". Thus, I am asking you to
consider donating to 80-20 whatever you can immediately. Write a check or make
a pledge payable to the "80-20 Educational Foundation, SELF fund" now.

As an
added insurance that we don't waste your
contribution, if 80-20 fails to reach her fund raising goal, we shall return
your donation in full. And sadly 80-20 most likely will go out of existence.
There is no use to linger on if the population does not support it even in a minimal way.

As a supporter, I have done my part
according to our leader, S.B. Woo, that is, donate till it hurts. I
sincerely hope you can do whatever you feel appropriate. Many thanks for your
time and consideration. (Emphasis added by S. B. Woo)

So he used 'Dear Fellow
Chinese Americans". 80-20 serves all Asian Ams.

Post Script As a result of Prof. Ho's letter, donations poured in. He
wrote a "thank you" letter to donors, which ended with

". . . . At my age to
know that another generation of responsible and responsive Chinese Am volunteers are ready to take over not
only warms my heart but also enables me to state - " I shall die a very happy man".
Larry Ho"

Monday, March 16, 2015

I write this with a heavy heart and the future of our fruitful existence in this

country as a minority population in mind. Whether it is college admission for our children, welfare benefit for our seniors, and equal treatment before the law, there are no free lunches. One does not get benefits handed to you on a silver platter. You do not automatically get what you deserve but what you are willing to fight for.

Many of the welfare/benefit we and our seniors enjoy today are won on the lives and broken head and limbs of the African American some 50 years ago. Those of you watched the Selma march commemoration on TV know. Jewish Americans with only half of the population of Asian Americans has a political action committee, AIPAC, that operates with an annual budget 670 (yes, six hundred seventy) times larger than the Asian America counterpart, the 80-20 Initiative (67 million vs 100K per year). This is what I hope to bend your ears for just a couple of minutes of your time.

I have been working continuously with 80-20 since day one 16 years ago and have witnessed the many accomplishments she has brought about for our population. These you may know and can find on her website. No need for me to repeat them here.

A year ago, 80-20 launched a campaign of raising an endowment of five million dollars in five years, called the SELF fund, for the organization to insure her long term survival. Sad to say, today the total raised is way behind schedule. The Board of Donors of the SELF fund, which is a group of 15 individuals charged with the task of helping the SELF fund raising, and in which I am a member, realize that while you can lead a horse to the water, you cannot force the horse to drink the water. As a group, Chinese Americans are not poor. But if 80-20 cannot raise fund successfully, then either she is not doing a worthy job or our message is not getting through. Thus, the board of donors decided to conduct an experiment. We voted that"each of us shall do our best to raise $2800.00 in the next two weeks (from 3/11-3/25) for the 80-20 SELF fund". Thus, I am asking you to consider donating to 80-20 whatever you can immediately. Write a check or make a pledge payable to the "80-20 Educational Foundation, SELF fund" now.

As an added insurance that we don't waste your contribution, if 80-20 fails to reach her fund raising goal, we shall return your donation in full. And sadly 80-20 most likely will go out of existence. There is no use to linger on if the population does not support it even in a minimal way.

As a supporter, I have done my part according to our leader, S.B. Woo, that is, donate till it hurts. I sincerely hope you can do whatever you feel appropriate. Many thanks for your time and consideration.

* Prof. Ho is raising money from his Chinese Am friends in Lexington, MA. So he used 'Dear Fellow Chinese Americans". 80-20 serves all Asian Ams.

Post Script

As a result of Prof. Ho's letter, donations poured in. He wrote a "thank you" letter to donors, which ended with

". . . . At my age to know that another generation of responsible and responsive Chinese Am volunteers are ready to take over not only warms my heart but also enables me to state - " I shall die a very happy man". Larry Ho"

Sunday, March 15, 2015

New Matching Funds Available

Thanks to you, $10,000 in matching funds have increased the total donation for SELF by another $25,000 in 4 days. We deeply regret that donors whose monies came in late were not be matched, because the matching fund has run out. Click here to see the great progress in SELF.